Free Rewarded by Jo Davis

taken up enough of your time.”
    “Please, don’t do that,” she entreated, pushing from her chair. “Don’t distance yourself. I’d like to think we can be friends.” She cringed at how trite that sounded, but she meant it.
    “Maybe one day, when I’m not quite so raw. I took a risk, loving you, and it didn’t pay off. Give me time to lick my wounds.” His attempt at teasing didn’t quite come off.
    “I’m so sorry.”
    “Don’t be. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, Anna. I still mean that.”
    “Thanks. I want you to be happy, too.”
    “I will, one day.” He winked. “I’ll see you, all right?”
    “Yeah. Tell Rio hello for me.”
    “Will do. I’ll let your waiter know we won’t need that table after all.”
    With that, he let himself out. She sat in her office for a long time, trying to keep from crying over hurting such a wonderful man. Finally the tears broke free, and she allowed herself to grieve just a little for what might have been. Crushing someone’s feelings was never something to take lightly. Especially when she really cared for him.
    Forcing her mind onto something else, she went back to her papers. She was vaguely aware of Ethan popping his head in to say good night. By the time she lifted her head, it was after eleven thirty and past time to go. The restaurant was empty, clean and ready for the next day. Quickly, she got out her phone to let Gray know she was on her way and was annoyed to see that there was no battery left. She hated when she forgot to charge it.
    She rode the elevator down. Saying good-bye to the security guard on the ground floor, she left.
    ***
    For the second time that evening, Gray tried to call Anna on her cell, with no luck. She had either turned it off or had forgotten to charge it. There was no answer on her landline at the apartment, either, so he guessed she was still at work.
    He was walking toward Floor Fifty-Five, still a few blocks away, when he spotted a lone figure coming his direction, head down. The man was moving slowly, shoulders slumped, as though the weight of the world rested on them. As the man neared, he couldn’t believe his shitty luck.
    “Joaquin,” he said, causing the other man’s head to snap up. “Do you think it’s a great idea for a billionaire to be walking the streets of New York without his bodyguard?”
    Stopping in front of him, his former nemesis gave a quiet laugh. “Nobody wants a billionaire tonight, Sloane. Seems you can’t give one away for a song.”
    Damn. “You talked to Anna?”
    “Yeah. Don’t worry, I’m not going to throw a punch. I know when to bow out gracefully.”
    “Are you all right?”
    “Aww, are we bonding?”
    Fuck me for being concerned.
“No, we aren’t. I’m just trying to be decent here.”
    The other man fell silent for a moment, and his defensive facade melted away. “I’m fine, thanks for asking. Really. She and I had a nice talk at her restaurant. Maybe we’ll be friends someday, who knows.”
    “I know she’d like that.”
    Gray’s phone buzzed on his hip, saving him from the horrible conversation. “Sloane.”
    Simon’s anxious voice had him instantly on alert. “We’ve got a big fucking problem.”
    “What is it?” His sharp tone brought Delacruz to attention.
    “Santos has escaped custody.”
    “Fuck! When?”
    “Earlier this evening, and nobody bothered to call us until now,” his partner ranted.
    “Goddamn. Hang on.” To Delacruz, Gray said, “Santos escaped police custody earlier tonight.”
    The other man’s mouth fell open. “The hell you say.”
    “That’s not all,” Simon interrupted. “A few minutes ago, I got an anonymous tip that he’s tracked Joaquin Delacruz to New York and is going after him. You and Anna are on his list, too, I’m sure.”
    “Shit. All right, Delacruz is with me. We’ll go get Anna and move them somewhere safe until that asshole is back in custody.”
    “Okay. Let me know if you need me.”
    Gray ended the